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when it was received. There was strong evidence that the
milk, when delivered to the defendant, corresponded with the
warranty, but when it was sold to the prosecutor it had clearly
been adulterated. It was, then, for the seller to show not only
that he had received it under a warranty of genuineness, but
that when sold it was in the same state as when received.
But this the magistrate had not found. The case therefore
fell short of what was required to relieve the seller, and the
magistrate ought to have convicted him." On the case being
remitted to the magistrate he imposed a fine of £b and
£44s. costs.
The number of samples taken, viz., 1 for every 914
inhabitants, as compared with 1 for every 529 persons in
London in 1893, is much too small to act as an efficient check
to adulteration, and I must again repeat the recommendation
made last year, which I have frequently urged upon the
Vestry, that a Sanitary Inspector should be appointed, whose
special duties would be to procure samples under the Sale of
Food and Drugs Act; to undertake a general supervision, as
far as practicable, of the food supply and the frequent
inspection of bakehouses and other places where food is
prepared.
Amendment of Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
The necessity for the amendment of the existing law regulating
the sale of food and drugs has long been recognised,
and a Conference to consider the question was held at the
Vestry Hall, Mount Street, in June last, at which the following
resolutions were adopted : —
1. Inspectors or other duly authorised persons should be
empowered to take samples of food and drugs at any railway
station where the articles are in course of delivery, bv consignors
or wholesale dealers, whether within or outside the
district for which they are appointed, which may be consigned
or addressed to any person or Company within the limits of
their respective districts.
2. Difficulty Arising out of Warranties.—This Conference
is of opinion that the best way of meeting the object
aimed at would be to repeal the 25th Section of the principal